Blue Jays Tie Record, Target Aggressive Trade Moves

The Toronto Blue Jays have surged to first place in the AL East with a nine-game winning streak, matching a franchise record for most wins before the All-Star break. A recent 8-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox featured standout performances from Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, and strong pitching by Jose Berrios. The Blue Jays' front office, led by Ross Atkins, is expected to aggressively pursue high-impact trades at the deadline, despite previous frustrations in acquiring top talent. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have fallen out of playoff contention and are reportedly seeking to trade veterans like Kyle Finnegan to aid their rebuild. Toronto has also made roster moves, including optioning Lazaro Estrada to Triple-A to reinstate Ryan Burr. The combination of on-field momentum and trade deadline ambition positions Toronto as a key team to watch.